So the light was starting to slant across the ruins,
a very powerful, potent moment to finally see the very famous set of structures with my own eyes. I was backpacking around the area. This was a few years ago. Pretty much the only expense was the entrance fee. Well, I found myself in Cambodia about three years ago. It's a fine country. I went in the summer, so it wasn't the busiest time of year to go.
And when I was there, I pretty much had it to myself. Very special experience being able to wander. I mean, it's huge. It's dramatic. It's got this incredible sort of waterside setting. There's so much to do, so much to explore, that you can find— you can get away from the crowds and you can find little temples that are deserted. My favorite bit of the whole site, and I'm probably not the only person, is Ta Prohm.
It's famous for being completely overgrown with jungle. It's just very dramatic. You know, they haven't tried to restore it. They left it as it was when it was discovered covered in undergrowth and trees, and it kind of feels like it would have looked had you been the first to discover it, so to speak. I saw it for the first time a little after lunch, mid-afternoon then. And it's important to mention that because Angkor itself is a huge area and there are many temples there.
So the light was starting to slant across the ruins, a very powerful, potent moment to finally see the very famous set of structures with my own eyes. But I managed to do that and then climb to one of the heights and then look across the bridge from a berth which was even more impressive. It's like you've discovered the ruin yourself. You walk around, and it really feels like a kind of a lost ruin in the middle of the jungle because it's got that kind of mythical, undiscovered feel to it.
You are aware, and I was certainly aware, that are a lot of people there. That's always the case with major landmarks, and it's certainly the case with Angkor Wat. But the beauty of it is such that it almost transcends that and you can find your own corner of it. It's a place that inspires and sparks wonder. And you don't really hear a huge chatter of people there.
You see people looking on in admiration. You know, you don't need to sign up for an expensive tour. You can do it yourself, do some research so you've got a kind of guide to the site and you know what you're looking at. Make sure you've got a whole day to explore the site. I think one of the best things about it also was I have really good memories of staying in Siem Reap, which is the town just down the road where almost everyone stays, really sort of backpacker friendly guest houses with lots of hammocks and everyone enjoying a beer in the evening. And it's just a very kind of laid back place. Touring the site under the midday sun is a grueling business, but if you go early at first light it's a lot easier.
The sunset over Angkor Wat is one of the great reasons to go to Cambodia. And sunset over the lake that frames the site, in particular, is an iconic thing. You will see it with lots of people still around you, but it doesn't damage the beauty of the spectacle.
And when I was there, I pretty much had it to myself. Very special experience being able to wander. I mean, it's huge. It's dramatic. It's got this incredible sort of waterside setting. There's so much to do, so much to explore, that you can find— you can get away from the crowds and you can find little temples that are deserted. My favorite bit of the whole site, and I'm probably not the only person, is Ta Prohm.
It's famous for being completely overgrown with jungle. It's just very dramatic. You know, they haven't tried to restore it. They left it as it was when it was discovered covered in undergrowth and trees, and it kind of feels like it would have looked had you been the first to discover it, so to speak. I saw it for the first time a little after lunch, mid-afternoon then. And it's important to mention that because Angkor itself is a huge area and there are many temples there.
So the light was starting to slant across the ruins, a very powerful, potent moment to finally see the very famous set of structures with my own eyes. But I managed to do that and then climb to one of the heights and then look across the bridge from a berth which was even more impressive. It's like you've discovered the ruin yourself. You walk around, and it really feels like a kind of a lost ruin in the middle of the jungle because it's got that kind of mythical, undiscovered feel to it.
You are aware, and I was certainly aware, that are a lot of people there. That's always the case with major landmarks, and it's certainly the case with Angkor Wat. But the beauty of it is such that it almost transcends that and you can find your own corner of it. It's a place that inspires and sparks wonder. And you don't really hear a huge chatter of people there.
You see people looking on in admiration. You know, you don't need to sign up for an expensive tour. You can do it yourself, do some research so you've got a kind of guide to the site and you know what you're looking at. Make sure you've got a whole day to explore the site. I think one of the best things about it also was I have really good memories of staying in Siem Reap, which is the town just down the road where almost everyone stays, really sort of backpacker friendly guest houses with lots of hammocks and everyone enjoying a beer in the evening. And it's just a very kind of laid back place. Touring the site under the midday sun is a grueling business, but if you go early at first light it's a lot easier.
The sunset over Angkor Wat is one of the great reasons to go to Cambodia. And sunset over the lake that frames the site, in particular, is an iconic thing. You will see it with lots of people still around you, but it doesn't damage the beauty of the spectacle.
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